# Why do alkyl bromides and iodides develop colour when exposed to light? Tags: organic-chemistry, periodic-trends, color, halides - Score: 14 - Views: 10609 - Answers: 2 - Answered: yes - Asked by: Sensebe (2432 rep) - Asked: 2013-11-08 - Edited: 2022-11-16 - Site: chemistry ## Question My book says Alkyl halides are colourless when pure. However, bromides and iodides develop colour when exposed to light. Why do they develop colour when exposed to light? It is important to note that alkyl fluorides, and alkyl chlorides are not said to develop colour. ## Answers ### Answer by stochastic13 (score: 12) This is because of spontaneous breakdown in case of iodides and bromides which have a lower bond-dissociation enthalpy as compared to fluorides and chlorides. This low enthalpy means that even at normal temperature or on exposure to sunlight, the halides (iodides and bromides) decompose to a certain extent forming free iodine and bromine, both of which are coloured and hence impart colour to the original halides. ### Answer by weeddr (score: -2) This is because of the fact that in presence of light iodine and bromine absorbs light and excitation of the electron from the gro